After this specific class got to wrap up with Richardson face-to-face, the assistant principal, Cassius Gil, questioned “Did they ever get a high school diploma? We should give them a high school diploma.”
Although the three men in attendance, Richardson, Salaam, and Santana Jr., had already earned G.E.D.’s and associate degrees while in prison, it was still an emotional moment for them.
Santana, Jr. attested: “When we went to prison, this was taken away from us. It was something we never got to experience. You felt like you were being robbed, and we’ve finally found redemption,” labeling the ceremony as a “blessing.”
Gil spoke half to the official graduating class and half to the small, honorary one: “In light of what is going on in our nation today, in our cities, in our prisons, on our roadways, in our courts and in our highest offices of administration, the Bronx Prep graduation class of 2017 want to promise you some important things. We promise not to take one moment of our free lives for granted. We will educate ourselves so that we stand for something larger rather than to fall for sensationalism, lies and injustice. We will stay woke.”
Although McCray and Wise couldn’t be in attendance, they will be receiving their diplomas by mail.
Article Appeared @http://www.vibe.com/2017/06/central-park-five-bronx-diplomas/